August 30, 2002

Bush administration seeks to shore up Congressional support for campaign against Iraq, even as it tries to head off pressure from Britain and France to work through United Nations before taking any action against Saddam Hussein; Vice Pres Dick Cheney says administration would 'consult widely with our Congress' before deciding whether to go to war; does not make clear whether administration would seek formal vote on authorization of war; seeks to undercut arguments of critics who urge return to United Nations weapons inspections, saying inspectors in past failed to uncover evidence that Iraq was in fact continuing to mass-produce deadly chemical agents; Security Council diplomats say United States has backed away from engaging in Council's pressure on Iraq about inspectors, with American diplomats calling such efforts increasingly fruitless; no other Security Council nations appear ready to give up on inspections process; photos (M)

Royal Ahold reports second-quarter loss of 197.5 million euros ($194 million) in contrast to profit of 323.8 million euros year earlier (S)

Article on boy band 'N Sync member Joey Fatone as he makes his Broadway debut in Rent; Fatone comments on realizing high school dream of acting on Broadway; photos (M)

Committee appointed by Mayor Michael R Bloomberg to study broad changes suggested for New York City Charter reportedly will reject two proposals sought by mayor: to eliminate partisan elections in city and to change rules for mayoral succession (M)

A Change for Stock Options Companies have stopped allowing executives to exercise stock options without putting up their own money. Officials are uncertain whether the action violates a new federal law. BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1

Three justices of United States Supreme Court urge court to reconsider allowing juveniles to be sentenced to death; make their plea in unusual dissent from order declining to stay one such execution; Justice John Paul Stevens, writing in dissent, cites apparent consensus that exists among states and in international community against executing juvenile offenders; says he is convinced it is unconstitutional to execute people for crimes committed when they are younger than 18; Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer also dissent; they say reconsideration of constitutionality of execution of inmates for capital crimes committed when they were juveniles is warranted, given court's ruling in June barring execution of mentally retarded; votes on orders denying stay requests are rarely announced; these dissents send mixed message, suggesting that several justices regard matter as important enough to make public statement but also that court is sharply divided on whether question requires reconsideration; in Texas, Toronto M Patterson is executed after court declines to stay his execution for murdering his cousin when he was 17; chart lists 21 people who have been executed for crimes committed when they were younger than 18 since Supreme Court re-established constitutionality of death penalty in 1976 (L)

Toyota Motor Co signs agreement with First Automotive Works, China's largest automaker, to begin large-scale production of wide range of models, becoming latest multinational to place big bet on China's fast-growing car market; venture will produce about 100,000 minicars per year beginning next summer and 10,000 to 20,000 luxury sport utility vehicles; will also build assembly plant to begin turning out at least 50,000 midsize sedans per year in 2005; photo (M)

Stephen Holden Critic's Notebook column on small, serious or surprise hit films that have appeared this season amid usual summer fluff, including One Hour Photo starring Robin Williams, The Good Girl starring Jennifer Aniston and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, written by and starring Nia Vardalos; photos (M)

German travel company TUI will start scheduled no-frills airline called Hapag-Lloyd Express in December based at Cologne-Bonn Airport using eight 737-700's chartered from Berlin-based charter carrier Germania; airline will fly to German and other European cities (S)

China Securities Regulatory Commission assistant chairman Wang Jianxi says government is likely to allow sale of government stakes in publicly traded state-controlled enterprises to foreign companies, signaling what could be next big step in China's movement toward market economy; also says that China will give permission to multinational corporations to sell shares in their Chinese operations to Chinese citizens; two measures outlined by Wang will draw China more into global economy and give country's securities markets considerably greater role in bringing Western investment and management practices to businesses; high-level expressions of interest in international investment like Wang's are also sign that China remains committed to market-directed economy as China's leaders prepare for 16th Communist Party Congress early in November, when many current leaders are expected to retire; Dennis Zhu, managing director of investment banking in China for J P Morgan Chase, says that while there is little interest yet by multinationals in selling stock in China, sale of government stakes in state-controlled enterprises would have 'tremendous' effects; adds foreign companies have been evaluating many state-controlled enterprises; photos (M)

New York City's Conflicts of Interest Board urges Mayor Michael R Bloomberg to sell his stocks, along with his interests in hedge fund, within 90 days because holdings violate provisions of City Charter; outlines series of areas in which Bloomberg should withdraw participation from selection of city's bond underwriters so as not to appear to favor Merrill Lynch, which owns 20 percent of his firm, Bloomberg LP; other recommendations noted (M)

China Southern Airlines Co and regional Chinese carriers Shandong Airlines Co and Shanghai Airlines Co will pay 206.5 million yuan ($25 million) for 59 percent of Sichuan Airlines Co to expand routes in China's western provinces (S)